LTA to allow time to adapt to cashless system

BOA's Richard Lal, left, LTA's Naisa Tuinaceva and Vodafone's Shailendra Prasad with Foneology's James Trusler as he demonstrates how e-ticketing works during the press conference at the Vodafone headquarters in Suva. Picture: IVAMERE ROKOVESA

THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) will only allow the e-ticketing system to be fully adopted once it is sure the time is right and all teething problems are sorted.

The e-ticketing system was officially launched yesterday — but consumers will still be able to pay their bus fares with cash. The cash payment system is to be eventually discarded for a full cashless system this year.

However, the announcement by LTA could see people being given a longer period to adapt to the cards.

"We made the announcement that we want to go cashless as soon as possible but we also want to remain flexible on that," LTA chief executive officer Naisa Tuinaceva said.

"It's important that we have a timeframe when we do this kind of project but at the moment too, you've got to be sensitive to whatever issues that might crop up," Mr Tuinaceva said.

"So while we have made it clear that we want the cashless system, we are also mindful of the different situations and we will come to the enforcement bit when we feel that we are ready," he said.

"Most of the infrastructure like I said we are still working on and once we are sure, we will proceed," he added.

The e-ticketing system had come under scrutiny from concerned citizens and consumer organisations in the past week because of the $10 price of a single card.

The organisations also called for a trial period in order to sort bugs out of the system.

However, Mr Tuinaceva said the LTA expected "initial teething issues" adding that those would be sorted out. "There are questions on various aspects of the new system and its application. These will become much clearer in the days ahead, I humbly ask the members of the public and various other stakeholders to bear with the new e-ticketing system as there are immense benefits for all once the system is fully functional," he stated.